Cotton comber



. July 18, 1944. F. 1 CRCKETT 2,353,812

COTTON, COMBER Filed oct. 2, 1940 'r sheets-sheet;

A EVENTOR BY E ATToRNg July 18, l1944.

F. L. CROCKETT COTTON COMBER '7 Sheets-'Sheet 2 Filed-pct. 2, 1940 261ML! wif July 18, 1944 f E. L. cRocKETT 2,353,812

i COTTON -COMBER File'd oct. 2, 1940 7 sheetsQsheet 5 WXEYEQ'TOR f ATTORN July 18, 1944. A F. L. cRocKl-:TTl 2,353,812

`COTTON coMBER l Filed oct. 2, 1940 7 sheets-sheet 5 F. l.. cRocKE-rT 2,353,812

coTToNjcoxvusERv 1 July is, 1944;,A

F'iled Oct. 2 1940v l ZINVENZOR' Patented July 18, 1944 COTTON COIVIBER Frank L. Crockett, Tenants Harbor, Maine, as-

signor to Whitin Machine Works, Whitnsville, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application October 2, 1940, Serial No. 359,385

20y Claims.

The general object of the invention is to improve the quality of product and the production rate in combers of the Heilmann type and includes various advantages having to do with the facility of manufacturing assemblage, the convenience of adjustment to varying conditions, cleanliness, low power consumption, ease of attendance and quietness of operation. To this end the improvements consist inthe general organization of the comber and of its several component systems as well as in independent features, combinations and subcombinations thereof, as hereinafter disclosed and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the yform of the invention at present preferred:

Fig. 1 is a general cross section through one of the combing heads.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation with parts broken away of a combing head.

Fig. 3 is a section of Fig. 2 substantially on line III-III of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a larger scale section through a combing head taken adjacent one of the top comb arms.

Fig. 5 is another section of a combing head taken on the plane of one of the selvage guides.

Fig. 6 is a top plan of the combing head.

Figs. 'l and 8 are respectively front elevation and top plan of the detaching mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a perspective of the front creol-roller, and

Fig. 10 is a front elevation thereof.

Fig. 1l is a detail of the nipper feed adjustment.

Fig. l2 illustrates a section of the Creel-roller drive.

Fig. 1.3' is a cross section through parts of the drive-head.

Fig. 14 a rear elevation of such head with parts in section, and

Fig. 15 an enlarged section of the nipper jaws.

Figs. 16 and 17 are plan and end views of the detaching motion.

The general organization of the combing head, as shown in Fig. l, will be first briey discribed, it being understood thatI there may be one or several combing heads in one machine of which the operating parts are driven from the drivehead, at the end of the machine, by means of longitudinal shafts extending through all of the combing heads, and journalled on vertical frame uprights l located between the heads. These uprights in the present case are constituted of superposed sections but could be in one piece if desired.

The dotted circle at the top of Fig. 1 represents a roll of cotton lap to be combed although the principles of the invention are not limited to cotton. This roll is supported on two creel'- rollers 2 and 3 which are appropriately driven so as to `unwind the lap and deliver it over the lap plate 4 to the nipper feed roll 5 carried on the nipper frame. The @reel-rollers are carried respectively on through shafts 6 and l', and preferably driven step-by-step from the drive-head as presently described. By the feed roll 5 the lap is delivered to the nipper jaws 8 and 9 of which the lower jaw, or cushion plate, is fixed on the nipper frame which is mounted or hung so as to be movable toward and from the detaching mechanism. The other jaw, or nipper knife 9, is appropriately operated to open to receive the lap fed by roll 5 and then to close upon it and nip it firmly, holding the projecting end thereof in the path of the comb teeth on the comb cylinder I0 whereby the forward ends of the lap bers are combed. After such forward ends have been thus cylinder-combed, the nipper jaws 8v and 9 moving forwardly, deliver the terminal tuft of combed fibers to the detaching mechanism, opening at the same time, so that the tuft may be drawn away `from the body of the lap.

The detaching mechanism includes a pair of back rollers ll and I2 of which the lower roller l2 is formed on a through shaft driven from the drive-head. They seize the front ends of the fibers delivered by the nippers, and by theirforward rotation separate the tuft from the lap still held by the feed roll 5 and pull it through the teeth of the top comb i3 which has been lowered for that purpose. By such top-combing action the tail ends of the fibers constituting the tuft are also combed.

The detaching rolls receive the front end of the tuft on top of the tail end of the preceding tuft, with an appropriate overlap, thus piecing the tufts together to form a continuous fleece composed of a succession of tufts in imbricated arrangement. For this purpose the rolls are preferably, though not necessarily, given an alternate forward and backward rotation, sometimes referredV to as the piecing motion. In their forward motion they detach the tuft and in their backward motion they expose a considerable length of the rear ends of the fibers in position to be overlapped by the next-arriving tuft. Also preferably, though not necessarily, the axis of the top roll Il is traversed forwardly and backwardly over the top of the bottom roll Its two extreme positions are indicated in as the back rolls and deliver the consolidated' fleece between the sliver-pan walls I3 to the trumpet Il by which it is converted to round or sliver form and from which it is pulled. by the actionof the calendar rolls I8 and I9, the latter Y roll being on a through shaft. From the cal'- endar rolls the sliver is drawn along the sliver table 2l) in the usual manner to the drawhead, not shown, because it constitutes no part of the present invention. I

The comb cylinder is cleaned of its vcombings by a rotary brush 2l and this brush and the lower part of the, comb cylinder are enclosed in a sheet metal 'casing 22 which yis subject to the suction of a rotary collecting system 23 which removes the waste material in the form of a lap. This waste system and the cycle of operations above described are well known to this art.

Referring now to the constructions constituting the invention, the nipper system shown more clearly in Fig. 5 comprises a nipper frame 25 to which the cushion plate 8, above referred to, is attached, and on which the nipper knife 9 is pivotally mounted. This frame is carried by two front suspension links 26 pivoted at a high level on the frame uprights` almost directly over the comb cylinder Ill, the pivot studs being marked 21 and appearing in Figs. 2 and 6. The frame is pivotally supported in thelower ends of these front links by the pivot studs 28 projecting from the side walls of the nipper frame. The rear part of the nipper frame is pivotally connected and thereby supported in the lower ends -of a pair of crank arms 29 depending downwardly from a rock shaft 30 and substantially parallel with the front links 26. The rock shaft is a through shaft operated from the drive-head of the machine and herein referred to as the nipper wag shaft. It is journalled in each upright on a pillow block 3| of which the journal cap 32 forms the support for the journal bearings 33 and 34 of the Creel-roller shafts 6 and 'l' as well as for some other parts, later described.

The rocking movement of the wag shaft 3U gives the nipper frame its oscillation toward and from the detaching mechanism and the degree of approach to the detaching mechanism is adjustable simultaneously, for all the combing heads, by a single adjustment located in the drivehead and presently referred to. It is to be noted that the path of the nipper jaws, or front edge of the cushion plate S, is virtually a straight line, being the composite of the arcs of the front links 25 and the shorter crank arms 29, and that this effect is accomplished by locating the nipper studs 28 well to the rear ofthe nipping line and making the crank arms 29 much shorter than the front links 26. This also accommodates the location of the nipper-supporting Wag-shaft 3l) in a low position, lower than the studs 2l of the front links, and has the advantage that it reduces the height of the machine permitting the creelrollers to be located at about the level of, or just above, the Wag-shaft, where the lap rolls can be very easily lifted to them, and it very much shortens the path from the lap roll to the nipper feed roll, permitting a short lap-plate.

The nipper knife 9 is carried on two arms 35 which are pivoted to the nipper frame on the inside of the side walls thereof at the point marked 36. It is opened and closed by the swinging movement of the frame by means of two knifeactuating studs 3l which are carried in the front ends of the arm and in positions which are practically in the vertical plane of the knife itself. These actuating studs 3l project beyond the nipper frame walls toward the adjacent frame uprights and there each engages a relatively fixed cam-track member 33 mounted on the upright between the latter and the nipper frame. The cam slots or tracks in these members are so designed or shaped that the forward swing of the frame cams the nipper knife to open position and the backward swing closes it, nipping the lap against the cushion plate. This nipping pressure is made appropriatelyresilient by providing the cam-track member 33 with a resilientr support on the frame upright, for which purpose it is preferably pivoted to the upright, as indicated at 39, with its upstanding arm jointed to a spring plunger 4i) contained in a spring housing 4i, and subject to adjustment as to spring pressure by the thumb nut 42. Thus when the nipper frame swings forwardly, the knife is positively opened and when it swings backwardly, the knife is closed with a firm pressure that can be independently adjusted at each end. Due to the shape of the cam-tracks, the knife studs do not encounter the pressure of the nipper springs (in housings 4I) untilthey are near the rear ends of their tracks, at which time such resistance is useful in overcoming the momentum of the swinging frame as it reverses its direction of movement, this being one of the factors contributing to smoothness of operation and capability of high speed-operation.

It may be pointed out also that the nipper arms 35 are not levers as usually employed, since A the nipping pressure is exerted through the studs in virtually the plane of the knife, and not through the arms nor subject to their exure, which in turn allows these `arms to be of lighter weight, correspondingly reducing the weight of the nipper system. With the cam-tracks and nipper springs supported independently of the nippers, as described, it is apparent that the reciprocating masses are reduced to a minimum. At the same time an exceptionally rm nip is obtained eliminating many of the difficulties inherent in previous types of nippers.

It is practical to make the nipper knife quickly detachable or removable and for this purpose the forward ends of the cam-track slots are open so that by releasing the arms 35 from the pivot pins 36, the knife can be bodily removed from the machine and quickly replaced. The pivot pins can be designed for tool-less operation to release the arms in various Ways.

The nipper spring housing 4I, above referred to, requires to be rigidly supported and is bolted, as at 43, to the frame upright and also steadied by the upstanding horn 4-1 rising from the bearing cap 32 of the nipper shaft 33, but its particular manner of support is of course subject to choice.

The roll of lap resting on the Creel-rollers 2 and 3 is centered endwise thereon by two large round buttons 45, each resembling a mushroom, which are set in fixed positions at the level of the tops `of the creel-rollers so' that` they engage only the bottom side of the roll' of lap. Due to this location and the shapey of these mushrooml guides, a` roll'. of lap can be placed in a combing head-with the minimum risk of mussing the lap edges in the4 process. As herein shown, these guides 45 are mounted in extended parts of the nipper spring housing 4I so 'that they project inwardly from the frame uprights and do not require a special creel beam for their support, and they have their Shanks threaded so that they are adjustable in and out in accommodation to the roll. I

Special precautions are taken for protecting the edges of the lap as it separates from the roll and moves onto the lap plate 4, to avoid the troubles that ensue from frayed or mussed selvages'. The lap unwinding from the roll is first carried forwardly upon the top surface of the front creelroller, 2, and then immediately passes between the smooth downwardly sloped surfaces of two selvage guides 46 which are spaced apart the width of the lap and so related to the roll as to begin their guiding function exactly as the lap leaves the roller and form no cracks or crevices between themselves and the roller into whichthe fibers are likely to enter or by which they can be caught. This novel effect is accomplished in the present case by making the selvage guide 46 in the form of a flat or plate-like fixture, semi-circularly notched on its bottom edge to fit vin an annular groove 41 formed in the Creel-roller nearits end, resting on the reduced diameter or bottom of the groove with its upper edge iiush with' the top of the roller. Thus straddling the roller,

it is maintained fixed against rocking and in a horizontal position by means of its rearward tail and a cross pin 48 therein which bears upwardly against any convenient support such as the bottom of the mushroom guide 45, while its forward end projects tangentially and radially from the surface of the roller as theber-guiding or selvage-forming surface. It is to be noted that this method of mounting the selvage guide involves holding it in virtual contact with the Creel-roller itself, more especially in contact though not a pressure contact, with a transverse wall of the roller represented, in the present case by the inner wall of the groove 41 and, further, that inasmuch as the top surface of the guide is flush with the top surface of the creel-roller, its selvage-forming action begins to take effect immediately as the layer of lap separates from the body of the roll, thus producing an exceptionally even selvage which is of great importance to the efciency of succeeding operations.

These selvage guides also support the lap plate 4 being provided with inwardly projecting studs 49 for this purpose, located in and projecting from undercut recesses formed in the ends of the guides. The lap plate is provided with appropriate attachments for hooking onto the studs, and by virtue of the undercut recesses, such plate can be wider than the distance between the guides which guards against the lap spilling over the edges of the lap plate as it passes downwardly to the lap feed roll.

At its lower end the lap plate is supported by the nipper frame by means of its forked brackets which t over the pins 50 xed in the nipper side walls, so that the plate oscillates on the studs 49 as the nippers swing. The lap plate as well as the selvage guides can be instantly removed from the machine by lifting them off of their respective supports.

The nipper feed roll 5 is carried by the nipper frame and rotated step-by-step by the swinging motion of the latter. Both its journals and pressure means are disposed on the outer faces of the nipper frame, as shown in Fig. 3, affording severalfpractical advantages. Each of its journal bearings is formed in the forward end of a lever 5| fulcrumed at its rear end on a feed-roll bracket 52, the latter being adjustably mounted by a slot and bolt attachment 53 on the side of the nipper frame. 'As thus held, the feed roll is situated over` the projecting part of the cushion-plate 8. The extreme forward end of the arm 5I carries a set screw 54 having aknurled head and thrusting against'the head of a spring-pressed plunger 54a which is carried, with its spring, inside of the bracket 52. The pressure of this plunger, acting through the screw, urges the feed roll toward the cushion plate and against the lap thereon, and such pressure is regulated by adjustment, at each end, 0f the screw 54. Such screws overlie the feed-roll gudgeons and are therefore easily accessible from the front of the machine, at the ends of the nipper knife (see Fig. 2), so that adjustment can be made while the feeding action of the roll is under observation.

Intermittent rotation is imparted to the feed roll so as to advance the lap'into the nipper jaws, by means of a ratchet pawl-box 55 mounted on one gudgeon of the roll, extended for that purpose, and being the left hand gudgeon in the present case. It appears in Fig. 2 and also in Fig. 3. The pawl-box has an arm carrying a pin 56 (Fig. 2 and dotted lines in Fig. 3) and which, as the nipper frame swings back and forth alternat-ely, encounters fixed abutments 51 and 58 and is turned thereby on the gudgeon first in one direction and then in the other. The front abutment 51 is attached as a bracket to the adjacent frame upright and the rear abutment 58 is formed by the front end face of a removable horizontal bar which has a finger-hole at its rear end and rests on a ledge on the adjacent frame upright; It is normally held in working position by means of its notch fitting over the horizontal pin of another adjustable bracket 59. By means of its finger-hole it may be raised from the pin and withdrawn as indicated by Fig. 11, thus obviously stopping the. feeding'of that particular combing head. By appropriate adjustment of the abutments 51 and 58 the amount of lap feed on eachvnip and the timing of the feed can be adjusted as desired. It is preferred to feed the lap by means of a feed roll cooperating with the cushion-plate, but it will be apparent that the feeding system, above described, can be applied equally well to machines in `which a lower feed roll is employed and the feed is independent of the cushion-plate.

As will be understood, the nipping pressure exerted by the nipper knife requires to be heavy in'order to hold the :bers from pulling through by the action of the comb cylinder and it is customary to shape the coacting faces of the nipper jaws with interfitting ribs and grooves so as to bendV as well as squeeze the fibers of the lap. Such jaws commonly bend the fibers to such an extent as to leave visible crease marks on the fleece product, giving a crinkled appearance. According to this invention such appearance is avoided by giving the fiber-engaging faces of these members a contour such as is indicated in Fig. 15 in which it will be observed, first, that both faces are metal, second, that opposing faces are parallel to each other and, third, that the knife member is provided with a relieffgroove 60 intermediate between points of maximum pressure nearer to the heel than the fiber toe.

With this formation the cushion-plate presents.

noobstructing ridge to the advance of the lap and the nipping pressure can be as heavyas requisite without leaving a permanent marking on the fleece.

The top comb system shown separately in Fig. 4, although appearing also in other figures, is automatically advanced and retracted `with the. nipper mechanism but with a different motion andthrough a different path. The comb proper may be the usual construction but is mounted in a subframe 6I having at each end a stud 62 adapted to travel in and be guided b-y a special slot 63 formed inthe front part of the top comb arm 64. The subframe is alsolink-connected to another rearward point on the topy comb arm by a link 65, the arrangement being such that the subframe and its top comb can be lifted and turned with `respect to the arms. and Without lifting the latter, to kthe position indicated in dotted lines in which the .comb-.extends forwardly in a position where it can be easily inspected and cleaned, being quickly replaceable to its working position in which `the subframe rests in the bottoms of the slots 63.

Each top comb arm is pivotally supported at the` rear of the comber in the endy of a crank arm 66 of a top comb Wag shaft 61, and each arm has a track 68 by `which it rests on a top comb roller 69, the latter `being mounted in a fixed .f position on an appropriate adjustable bracket T onV the nipper spring housing 4I. As the top comb Wag shaft 61 oscillates, the top comb receivesy a corresponding motion according to the slope of the roller track 68. It is sometimes desirable `to impart a quick downward movement to the top comb so as to `promote a positive penetration of its teeth into heavy lap. This quick drop is afforded by a supplementary track inthe form of a latch member II adjustablyY pivoted to the top comb arm and extended downwardly adjacent to the track 68 to be engaged by the roller 69. This latch is held against swinging on its pivot in one direction, by an adjustable stop 'i2 and the several parts are so arranged that on the forward stroke of the arm, the latch mounts and rides on the roller until it drops abruptly off of its front side, thus giving the quick drop to the top comb. On the return movement, the latch swings Von its pivot dragging over the roller so thatv the top comb recedes in a path lower than that in which it advanced, thus receiving a two-way motion and effectively combing the tail end of the tuft. The whole top comb structure can be swung completely out of the combing head by turning the arms over and back on the pivots of the cranks 66.

The top comb wag shaft 61 is driven from the nipper Wag shaft through a pair of segmental gears 13 and 'I4 appearing in Figs. 12 and 14, and later referred to, and this shaft 61 in turn oscillates another and parallel wag shaft 'I5 by means of another pair of segmental gears 'I6 and 'H appearing in Figs. 13 and 14. The function of the shaft 'I5 is to impart the traversing motion to the top detaching roll II for which purpose it is connected by the goose-necked link connection 'i8 with the stirrups 'i9 of that roll, which stirrups are formed as levers supported on the fulcrurn axis 8G. This fulcrum is a floating fulcrum carried on a short link ypivoted tov the frame upright at BI ject to the-downward pull of Aa curved link 82' connected to a weighted lever 83 (see Fig. 1); thereby providing the appropriate pressure for the top detaching roll in all of its positions.

The top detaching roll II is leather-covered as-usual, the bottom roll I2 being fluted also as usual, but the front detaching rolls I4 and I5 differ from customary practice in that both are metallic or hard and'smooth-surfaoed and both are positively driven, the lower roll being a through shaft and the upper roll being geared to.

- it. The left-hand gudgeon of the top roll I4 isv (see Fig.f3) and is sub- 75 journalled in a bushing 84 slabbed to t in the straight-sidedslot of a frame bracket 85 (Figs. 6 and 8) `directly over the bottom roll I 5, and the gudgeon carries a small' spur gear 86 fast thereon and vnormally covered and concealed by the belled'end of the bushing. This gear 4meshes withv an equal gear formed on or attached to the roll shaft I5 as indicated at 86a. The gears are sumciently enclosed by the bushing so that their lubrication is safely isolated and kept fromV contact with the fiber.

Pressure is applied to the gudgeon at each end of the top roll I4 by means of a stirrup 81 (see Fig. 3) attached to the top of a weighted rod 8'Ia which passes down'through a guiding hole in the bracket 85. Bylifting these stirrups and turning them to one side, the top roll I4 is free for, removal. By reason of their smooth surfaces and their pressure, the front rolls I4 and I5 exert a calendaring effect on the lfreshly pieced fieece, consolidatingy the tufts of which it is formed and adapting it to be drawn through the condensing .trumpet with the least bending back of its fibers. A common clearer cover 89 is applied to both top rolls II and I4, the same being link-connected to the posts 88 on the stirrups 19.

TheV fleece delivered by the calendar-detaching rolls is received directly upon an inclined panel v90 which, according t0 this invention, bridges the Whole of the space between those rolls and the sliver table 29 for the full width between frame uprights. Two convergent fences I6, formed on or attached to the top surface of this panel, gather the fleece and deliver it to the condensing trumpet Il, so that this panel, with its fences, serves all of the functions heretofore performed by the sliver pan and additionally forms a protective cover enclosure for the under part of the machine. Each panel is removably supported on the frame, as for example, by the pins 9| (dotted lines in Fig. 6, also Fig. l) and the fingers 92 secured to the underside of the sliver table, and the ends of adjacent panels meet flush with each other, so that they form a continuous closure or cover for the full width of the machine affording special convenience in cleaning the machine, and on their removal affording easy access to lower parts. At each end the panel is formed with a raised box portion 90H, the purpose of which is to clear the projecting corners of the frame uprights (see Fig. 1).

From the trumpet which is pivotally mounted at 93 and counter-weighted as usual to serveas a stop motion element, the sliver enters between the calendar rolls I8 and I9, of which the lower roll is carried on a through driving shaft 94. The upper roll I8 is journalled by one end in a bracket 95 hinged to the sliver table on a horizontal axis, indicated at 9B, so that it can be turned up to and remain in an erectposition when it is necessary to reach the delivery end of the trumpet. This hinge-mounting of the roll avoids the usual roll rack for holding the roll on such occasions and leaves the sliver table free of the obstruction to wiping that such projections represent.

Referring now to the drive-head, the power is applied in the first instance from the driving pinion 98 to the main gear 91 (Figs. 13 and 14), which is fast on the comb-cylinder shaft I0. The train of gears collectively marked 2|a is for driving the brush shaft 2|, above referred to, and takes its power from main gear Sl. Through its crank pin 99 and the connecting rod |00, the main gear 9T rocks the actuating arm of the nipper wag Shaft 30. This arm is itself free on that shaft but attached to it, adjustably, by means of a hub member |02 which is firmly clamped thereon by the bolt |03. The arm is bolted to the hub |02 by bolts |04 and by loosening the latter, the actuating arm |0| can be set in any desired angular relation to the wag shaft, which fact, it will be noted, enables the throw of all of the nipper frames to be simultaneously adjusted at this point.

The motion of the actuating arm |0| is transmitted by a cross stud |05 thereon to a rocking plate |06 adjustably bolted to theA side of the segment gear 14 which is also free on shaft 30. The bolts are marked |01. The rocking plate oscillates this segment gear through the cross stud connection and thereby drives the top comb system. Change of the top comb motion can thus be made also at the drive head,l and independently of the adjustment of the 'nipper system. The rocking plate |06 is slotted at its upper end to hold, adjustably, the pivot of a pull y pawl |08 which drives the ratchet wheel |09, and thereby the breel-roller shafts 6 and 1, through the train of gears marked |0. Thus the actions of the creel, nipper and top comb motions are all adjusted at the drive-head, effective on all the combing heads. v

The system employed for imparting the intermittent, or forward and backward, motion to the detaching rolls is important to the performance of the machine and comprises a planetary gear train which is noticeably smooth in operation and productive of exceptionally-uniform piecing. The system is constructed and operates as follows: As shown by Fig. 16 the end of the comb cylinder shaft I0 is connected, at the draw-head end of the machine, to drive a through counter-shaft ||3 through a train oi change-gears represented generally by H4. By substituting gears in this train the shaft I3 can be driven at a selected speed and such adjustment changes the ratito of the forward and backward motions of the detaching rolls as will presently appear.

The shaft ||3, termed the slow-motion shaft, extends through the several combing heads to gear box ||5 located in the first combing head, next to the frame-Wall separating that head from the drive-head. At an intermediate point in its length it drives the train of gears, indicated by pitch circles ||3EL in Fig. 1, for driving the calendar roll shaft 94, already referred to.

Within the gear box |5 the slow motion shaft ||3 carries, fixed on it, a spur gear ||6 which drives a somewhat larger gear and which in turn drives a smaller gear I8 fast on one end of a short shaft I0. This shaft extends through the partition wall into the drive-head space where it carries a pinion |20, fast on it, meshing with a larger'gear |2|, which in turn drives the pinionv |58' on the shaft of the lower front detaching roll Shi l5. The' lower back detaching roll |2 is driven as usual from the front roll by its pinion I2EL and a long toothed intermediate |22.

The gear is journalled ina link |23 swinging .from the slow-motion shaft as a center and the shaft ||9 is journalled, at one end, in a link |24 (in the gear box) and at the other end in the arm of a cam lever |25 (in the drive-head), both link and arm swinging from the axis of gear |2| as a center. The shaft H9 and the axis of gear are held in fixed relation by a link` |26 connecting them. The cam lever |25 is oscillated by its bowl |21 in a cam-groove |28 carried on the inner face of the main gear 91 and its rocking movement raises and lowers the two axes just referred to, thereby causing gear to roll as a planetary gear on gear ||6 and gear |20 to roll as a planetary gear on gear |2I. This action, as will be understood, constitutes the orbital motion of the system and adds to the motion of gear |2| in one direction of oscillation of lever |25 and subtracts from it in the other. The degree of addition and subtraction depends on the angular velocity of the lever |25 with respect to the selected angular velocity of the slow-motion shaft I I3 and the gearing is commonly so organized as to give the detaching rolls about two-thirds revolution forward and one-third revolution backward on each nip, thus providing for the overlap of the tufts as above described,

As can be observed from analysis of Figs. 13 and 17, taking note of the arrows, the backward motion of the detaching rolls occurs when the planetary gears are rocked downwardly from the position there shown and the reversal to forward direction occurs when they are swung upwards again. From the shape of the cam groove |28 it will be observed that when the planetary gears have completed one orbital excursion they remain stationary, being so held by the concentric part of the cam-groove then having control of the cam-bowl |21. While this condition continues, the slow motion of shaft ||3 is transmitter unmodied through the gear train to the detaching rolls, driving them slowly forward, the same as if the system were not planetary.

'Ihus it will be seen that the detaching rolls reverse and recover their motion in one portion of the cycle and continue in slow forward rotation at constant velocity during the rest of the cycle. Preferably the reversal and recovery takes place in less than half of the cycle as indicated by the cam-groove, being timed to accommodate the overlap without risk of snatching of the tail end by the cylinder half-lap.

That such quick reversal of the heavy masses of the detaching mechanism can be made without shock or noise is due to the fact that the planetary system includes more than a single planetary couple. As above pointed out, gears and ||6 constitute one couple, and gears |20 and |2| constitute another, Also, since link |23 and lever arm |25 are of unequal radius, the gear ||8 can be regarded as planetary to planet gear although its orbital path is short. These couples have their respective sun-gears on different axes and they therefore work in tandem relation, each affecting the next in the series, and the effect of thus distributing the work, amongst two or several couples, is to permit a lower orbital velocity of the planet gears and hence an easy curvature for cam groove |28 such as would not otherwise be attainable in a cam element of admissible size, and this in turn makes speeds of ||0 nips, or more, continuously practical and with heavy laps.

It will be understood, as already pointed out, that the machine shown in the drawings is representative only of the form of the invention l`as at present preferred and that there is no intentional limitation of its principles to any specific form of structure or arrangement except as specially defined in the claims.

It is pointed out further that certain of the features herein disclosed form the subject m'atter of divisional or continuing applications as follows: Ser. Nos, 454,746, 454,747, 454,748, 454,749., 454,75G, 454,751 and 454,752,

I claim:

1. In a comber, a comb cylinder, nipper mechanism including -a lap-feed roll and cushion plate swinging on members pivoted to fixed front points located above the comb cylinder and means for holding the lap roll in a position between said points including a creel-roller located below said points and between the vertical lplanes of said members with its front side substantially vertically above the cushion plate and supplying lap directly downwardly thereto.

2. In a comber, a comb cylinder, front and back creel-rollers, and nipper mechanism including a cushion plate and a lap-feed roll, swinging on a fixed axis located vertically above the comb cylinder and on another fixed axis located below the lap-roll supported on said creel-rollers, the front side of the front rol-ler being vertically above said cushion plate, whereby the lap has a short straight path to said lap-feed roll.

3. In a comber, a swinging nipper frame, a creel roller, a lap-feed roll on the nipper frame receiving lap therefrom, selvage guides projecting from the surface of said roller and a lap plate pivotally attached to said guides at its upper end and to said frame at its lower end.

4. In a comber having a comb cylinder, a nipper frame supported at its front in the lower ends of two links swinging from a pivotal axis above the comb cylinder and pivotally supported at its rear in the lower end of a crank arm of a longitudinal wag shaft located at a lower level than said axis, said links being longer than and substantially parallel to said crank arm, and meansfor supporting a lap roll including a front creel roller having its front or lap-delivering side located above and forwardly of said Wag shaft and directly over said nipper frame, whereby the lap has a short and substantially vertical course to the nipper jaws.

5. In a comber having a rotary comb cylinder, a top comb, and swinging nipper frame, the latter having a feed roll and cushion plate, means for holding the top comb comprising top comb arms extending therefrom to a rearward point of support, means for supplying lap to the nipper frame comprising a creel roller located between, and turning on an axis located below the midportions of said top comb arms with its front or delivery side substantially directly above said cushion plate and a longitudinal Wag shaft below said arms for supporting and swinging the nipper frame.

6. In a comber having a rotary comb cylinder and a top comb, a nipper frame having a cushion plate and lap-feed roll, means for reciprocating said top comb including rearwardly extending top comb arms and actuating means therefor in rear of said nipper frame, means for supplying lap to said feed roll comprising a longitudinal creel shaft extending beneath the mid-portions of said top comb arms, a roller on said creel shaft between said arms having its front side substantially directly over said cushion plate and a long'itudnal Wag shaft for supporting and operating the nipper frame.

7. In a comber, the combination of a comb cylinder, a nipper frame supported at its front in the lower ends of two links swinging from a pivotal axis located above the comb cylinder and pivotally supported at .its rear in the lower end of a crank arm of a longitudinal Wag shaft located at a lower level than said axis, said links being longer than and substantially parallel to :said crank arm, a top comb, supporting arms 'therefor pivotally supported in rear of said nipper 'frame and Wag shaft, `and means for supplying lap to the nipper frame including a longitudinal creel shaft, located beneath the midportions of said arms, a creel roller thereon with its front side located above and forwardly of said Wag shaft and lower down than said front link axis, whereby the lap has a short and substantially vertical course to the nipper jaws.

8. In a comber having a rotary comb cylinder, a reciprocating top comb and a nipper frame carrying the cushion plate and lap-feed roll, means to supply lap to such feed roll comprising a longitudinal creel shaft and a front creel roller thereon having its front side substantially directly over said cushion plate, a longitudinal Wag shaft in rear of said creel shaft for supporting and operating said nipper frame and means for operating said top comb comprising a top comb Wag shaft in rear of said nipper Wag shaft, top comb arms extending forwardly from the latter shaft over said creel and nipper Wag shafts, gearing connecting such wag shafts for simultaneous rocking movement and means for adjusting such gearing to change the relation of their said movements.

9. In a comber having a rotary comb cylinder, reciprocating top comb .and a' nipper frame, means to supply lap thereto comprising a longitudinal creel shaft and a creel roller thereon having its front side s-ubstantially directly over said nipper frame, a longitudinal nipper wag shaft, a top comb Wag shaft, top comb arms extending forwardly from the latter shaft over said creel shaft, an oscillating driving arm, means adjustably connecting each of said Wag shafts thereto and means on said driving arm for rotating said creel shaft.

10. In a comber having a rotary comb cylinder, top comb and swinging nipper frame, means for supplying lap to the latter comprising a creel shaft extending directly over said nipper frame, means for operating the top comb comprising top comb arms extending rearwardly over said creel shaft, a top-comb wag shaft in rear of the comb cylinder, said shaft having crank connections withy said top-comb arms and-means supporting said top-comb arms at points above the creel shaft level for controlling the path of the top comb- A1l. In a comber having a rotary comb cylinder, top comb and swinging nipper frame, the combination of means for swinging the nipper frame comprising a longitudinal Wag shaft having a crank arm pivoted to and supporting the rear of such frame, means for supplying lap to the nippers comprising two longitudinal creel shafts, one forward of such Wag shaft and over said nipper frame and the other in rear thereof, a top comb wag shaft in rear of said nipper Wag shaft and nipper frame, cranks thereon and arms extending fromsaid cranks over all of said 1ongitudinal shafts for supportingv the top comb.

V 12. In a comber, the combination with the comb cylinder and swinging nipper frame, the latter vcarrying a lap-feed roll and cushion plate, of a longitudinal Wag shaft for swinging the nip'- per frame, means above ksaid Wag shaft for supporting a roll of lap comprising a creel roller, the

delivery side of such roller being forward of said nipper Wag shaft and substantially directly above said cushion plate and provided with xed selvage guides projecting directly from the ends thereof, and a vertical lap-feed plate connecting such guides to the nipper frame.

13. In a comber, the combination with the comb cylinder and nipper frame, the latter carrying a lap-feed roll and being mounted to swing between frame uprights from an axis higher than said cylinder, of a longitudinal Wag shaft journalled in said uprights at a lower level than said axis for swinging the nipper frame, means above said Wag shaft and below the level of said axis for supporting a roll of lap comprising a creel roller, the delivery side of said roller :being forward of said wag shaft and provided with fixed selvage guides projecting directly from the ends thereof, and a lap-feed plate for conducting lap directly from said guides to said lap-feed roll.

14. In a comber, the combination with the rotary comb cylinder, reciprocating top comb, swinging nipper frame, and traversing detaching mechanism, of a nipper Wag shaft for swinging said frame journalled to operate in rear thereof, a top comb Wag shaft journalled in rear of said frame having cranks and top comb arms connecting said cranks to the top comb for operating the same; a detaching Wag shaft adjacent said top comb Wag shaft having cranks, and links connecting said cranks below said comb cylinder with said detaching mechanism for traversing the latter, said three Wag shafts being all mutually connected and an oscillating driving arm concentrically journalled with respect to said nipper Wag shaft for driving them.

15. In a comber, the combination with the rotary comb cylinder, reciprocating top comb, swinging nipper frame, and traversing detaching mechanism, of a nipper Wag shaft for swinging said frame journalled to operate in rear thereof, a creel shaft journalled to operate over said nipper frame,` a top comb Wag shaft journalled in rear of said frame having cranks and top comb arms connecting said cranks with said top comb, said top comb arms passing over said nipper and creel shafts, a detaching Wag shaft adjacent said top comb Wag shaft having cranks, and links connected with said cranks and extending under said comb cylinder for traversing said detaching mechanism, said three Wag shafts being all mutually connected and having a single oscillating driving means.

16. A Heilmann-type comber comprising a cylinder shaft having a comb cylinder operating between intermediate frame uprights, a nipper frame above the cylinder including lap-feeding means and a nipper knife, means carried on the front part of said nipper frame for operating the nipper knife, a longitudinal Wag shaft journalled in said uprights directly above the rear part of said nipper frame, a downwardly depending and relatively short crank arm on said shaft pivotally connected to and supporting said rear part of said nipper frame and adapted to swing the nipper frame back and forth to actuate said knife-operating means, means for supplying lap to said lap-feeding means comprising tWo longitudinal Creel-shafts journalled on said uprights respectively in front. of and-in: back of said longitudinal AWag shaft and "adjacent the same, the creel roller on 'the vfront Creel-shaft having its .front face substantiallyv directly over said lapfeeding means whereby the lap'has a short and substantially vertical path to said means. f

17. A Heilmann-type comber-comprising a cylinder shaft having a comb cylinder between intermediate frame uprights, a nipper frame having studs on its front part whereby it is linksupported and including a lap-feed roll and a nipper knife, means associated with. the front part of said nipper frame for operating the nipper knife, a longitudinal nipper wag shaft behind said studs and directly above the rear part of said nipper frame, a relatively short crank arm on said shaft pivotally connected to said rear part of the nipper frame, means on said frame below the studs thereon and forward of the connection with said crank arm for holding and adjusting said feed-roll, and means for supplying lap to said feed-roll including two longitudinal Creel-shafts journalled on said uprights respectively in front of and in back of said longitudinal Wag shaft and adjacent the same, the creel roller on the front creel-shaft having its front face substantially directly over said lapfeeding means.

18. A Heilmann-type comber comprising a cylinder shaft having a comb cylinder operating between intermediate frame uprights, a nipper frame including lap-feeding means and a nipper knife, means carried on the front part of said nipper frame for operating the nipper knife, a longitudinal Wag shaft journalled in said uprights directly behind said operating means and above the rear part of said nipper frame, a downwardly depending and relatively short crank arm on said shaft pivotally connected to and supporting said rear part and adapted to swing the nipper frame back and forth to actuate said knife-operating means, pivots on the upper parts of said uprights for supporting the front part of said nipper frame, means for supplying lap to said lap-feeding Imeans including a longitudinal creeishaft journalled on said uprights in front of said longitudinal Wag shaft and below said pivots, the creel roller on the Creel-shaft having its front face substantially directly over said lap-feeding means whereby the lap has a short and substantially vertical path to said means.

19. A Heilmann-type comber comprising a cylinder shaft having a comb cylinder operating between intermediate frame uprights, a top comb, a nipper frame including lap-feeding means and a nipper knife, means carried on the front part of said frame for operating the nipper knife, a longitudinal nipper Wag shaft journalled in said uprights directly behind said knife-operating means and above the rear part of said nipper frame, a downward relatively short crank arm on said shaft pivotally connected to and supporting said rear part and adapted to swing the nipper frame back and forth to actuate said knifeoperating means, means for supplying lap to said lap-feeding means including two longitudinal Creel-shafts journalled on said uprights respectively front and back of said longitudinal nipper Wag shaft and adjacent the same, the creel roller on the front Creel-shaft having its front face substantially directly over said lap-feeding means, arms for said top comb having one means of support in rear of said nipper wag shaft and another means of support above said lap-supplying means.

lnipperwafgr shaft having a crank armisupporting f the rear of said frame, said Wag shaft being lo cated directly behind said frame, a-nipper knife carried by said frame, means :located Wholly at `the front end of said framevfor operating the knife, a top-comb having its supporting arms extended over and to the rear of said wag shaft,

a top-combwa'g shaft adjacent said nipper shaft for operating said arms, means for supplying lap to the nippe'r frame including a longitudinal creel shaft located beneath said arms, and guiding means for said arms located above said creelshaft.

FRANK L. CROCKE'IT. 

